Help Stop the Proposed Closure of Bat Nest Road
in Knox County, Ohio
January 7th, 2026
Help Stop the Proposed Closure of Bat Nest Road
YOUR VOICE IS IMPORTANT.
BDR AND THE AMA HAVE MADE IT
EASY TO BE HEARD.
TAKE ACTION BEFORE TUESDAY, JANUARY 13
Fill out a simple form that will go directly to the Knox County commissioners.
Send your own custom email. Here’s a template to start.
There’s power in numbers. Attend the public hearing on January 13.
What We Know
Bat Nest Road in Knox County, Ohio, is a legally designated public roadway and has been open for public travel since the 1800s. For decades, motorcyclists have used this road on street legal motorcycles, along with countless other road users who rely on it as a rural through-route.
Despite its legal status, a single adjacent landowner has recently restricted access to Bat Nest Road, posting signs and attempting to prevent lawful public travel. These efforts have no legal authority and do not change the fact that Bat Nest Road remains a public roadway.
Ohio is home to over 400,000 registered motorcycles — the third-highest of any state in the country — and Bat Nest Road has long been part of the landscape enjoyed by both local riders and out-of-state travelers.
That access is now at risk.
The landowner is petitioning Knox County to forfeit a portion of Bat Nest Road to private ownership, which would eliminate its status as a through-road and permanently end public access.
Why We Oppose the Bat Nest Road Closure
Bat Nest Road is a legally designated public roadway.
It is currently open to all vehicles, including street legal motorcycles. Any closure of a public road should follow established legal procedures and be based on clear public interest, not the preference of one private landowner.
Closing Bat Nest Road denies Knox County significant tourism dollars.
Adventure motorcyclists travel from across the country to enjoy nearby routes (e.g. the OHBDR and the Great Ohio Adventure Trail) and in the process spend money on food, gas and lodging at local businesses.
Closing this road would set a concerning precedent.
Allowing a public road to be closed at the request of a private individual risks encouraging similar actions elsewhere, potentially leading to broader loss of public access across the state.
Private individuals may not restrict public roads.
There is no evidence that closure is necessary to address safety or maintenance concerns. Posting signs or preemptively attempting to prohibit lawful use of a public road by private parties is not legally valid.
THIS REQUEST IS FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF THE PRIVATE LANDOWNER, NOT IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.
How You Can Help
- Attend the Public Hearing on January 13th to voice your opposition to the forfeiture of Bat Nest Road. The meeting will take place at the Knox County Commissioner’s Office, 117 East High Street, Suite 161, Mount Vernon, Ohio 43050, on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at 10 a.m.
- Fill out the AMA form.
- Send an email to the county commissioners (template below)
- Share this issue with fellow riders, clubs, and local community members to ensure county officials hear from those who value public access.
Please send an email to the county commissioners prior to the January 13th meeting.
County Commissioners
Drenda Keesee
[email protected]
Barry Lester
[email protected]
Bill Pursel
[email protected]
Jason Booth, County Administrator
[email protected]
You can use the following letter as a guideline
Subject: Please Keep Bat Nest Road Open to Public Use
Dear Knox County Commissioners,
I am writing to express my opposition to closing Bat Nest Road.
Bat Nest Road is a legally designated public roadway and is currently open to all street-legal vehicles, including motorcycles. Any closure of a public road should be based on a clear public need and follow established legal procedures, not the request of a single private landowner.
This road supports tourism in Knox County. Adventure and dual-sport motorcyclists travel from across Ohio and beyond to ride nearby routes such as the Ohio BDR and the Great Ohio Adventure Trail, spending money locally on fuel, food, and lodging.
Closing Bat Nest Road would set a concerning precedent. Allowing public roads to be closed at the request of private individuals risks broader loss of public access throughout the county and state.
There is no evidence that closure is necessary for safety or maintenance reasons. Private individuals do not have the authority to restrict or post public roads, and lawful public use should not be preemptively prohibited.
This closure request appears to serve private interests rather than the public good. I respectfully urge the County to keep Bat Nest Road open and accessible to the public.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[City / County]
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